Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-06
CHURCH CELEBRATION.
The emi-Century Anniversary Of
the Local Baptists.
The Exercises Of Saturday Night and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Report and
historical Address -Tonight's Pro-
gramme.

The services of the First Baptist
church, commemorative of the founding of
the denomination in Rock Island, opened
Saturday evening, with Early Reminis.
cences" by Rev. L. c. w. Burnham. of
Wheaton, His, Rev. J. S Mabie, of
Chicago and Rev J. L. Jackson, of Bloom
ington. H., Mr. Knox, of Chicago. and
others, all of whom had heen connected
with the church in its early days, either
in the capacity of pastor or parishioner,
The addresses were full of interest, per
tanning TO church's struggles and nd.
vancement.
Yesterday morning Rev |. W. Read,
the present pastor, delivered
TIE HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
an exhaustive production, tracing the
history of the church from its foundation
to this time. The historian of this oc
casion commenced by allusiou to the first
meeting for the formation of the church
June a, 1887 in the cabin of Lemuel Lud~
name of Baptist. This first place of
meeting was only few blocks west of
where the First Baptist church ut Moline
now stands. The name given this first
organization was the Rock Island Baptist
church, being named after the island of
Rock Island, then trading post
Stephenson being the name of the town
where Rock Island now stands. The
population was then 500. Twentieth
street was the eastern limit and Thirteenth
street and Second avenue the central or
main business portion. La 1871 the
name was changed from Stephenson to
Rock Island Then it was that this
little body Of Baptists, weak and
faltering, laid solid the foundation of the
faith of the church. The original records
of this first meeting have been lost, but
April II. 1871, the clerk commenced
record dating back to The
beginning as accurately as possible.
and this Mr.. Read engrafted in his adj
dress The names of the first seven
members with which the church CONS
meuced its career are gwen US Titus
GIllet, Zachariah Cook, Barbara Cook,
Lemuel Ludden Sllah Ludden. Phoebe
Skinner aud Nancy Taylor The Lords
supper was first observed August 20, OF
the year of its formation. Union squire
was owned by Spencer Case aud McCay.
who had plated the city, and they gave
the denomination The four corner lots
upon which to erect a church. an offer
being made February II, 1888, but the
records show no action on the part of the
church in the matter. other than its
reference TO a committee. May Is, 1889.
and February 20, 1S41, articles of faith
and rules of decorum were adopted. On
July IS. 1871. it was decided to unite
with the church of Davenport in forming
an association of northern churches
August 30, 1912, Laura Tryon was re-
ceived into the church. being the first
baptism in the church's history. The
next year twelve others we're received by
letter or baptism, and from that time the
church continued 10 grow. March 10
1913, Rev. c. E. Brown, assistant pas
tor, baptized nine in the river where ihs
Peoria depot now stands. Among thos,
were J A Boyer and wife. Mrs Zerulal
Boyer. and Feb u, 1916. he WAS clcctet
a deacon, u position hc still holds. Mrs
Boyer was, like her husband. an active
member of the flock until her death
March IS, 1886 December Is, 1913, thu
court house was secured as place of wor
ship, and Il series of protracted meeting
followed. February "a 1914, Mrs. Dclial
Wilson was received into the church b.
baptism and still continues a member
though in feeble health. Ed er Gilet. tn
churCh's original pastor, severed his con
ncction in 1874 and this was followed b,
considerable discord, but all was satisfac
torily settled. On June ), 1874, the schoo
| house which stood in the centre of Uniol
square was bought by Mr.. Boyer al con
stables sale. Previous to this purchas,
the church had met in the houses of set
| tiers, the court room and d school build
| ing which stood at the southwest corne
of Third avenue and Thirteenth stree
where school building No. now stands
This building was used alternately by tn,
Baptists. Methodists and Presbyterians
| The church met later in deserted wagol
shed. December 10, 1S47,it was decide,
to build church not to excee,
and cost $500, and the lot and churcl
now used by the Christian chapel wa
secured. April 0. 1S4S. Mr.. and Mrs
Renfro were received from Dsvenpor
and Mrs. Renfro continues member O
the parish. The FIRST Baptist church O
Moline was organized May %. 1852
| After this the church struggled along fo
twenty years, experiencing many change
of pastors and undergoing much suiierin
financially. January Is, 1870, CON
mittee was appointed looking to a ne'
building for public worship, March 2;
1870, tile church property IVES sold I
P L. Mitchell for S3,250. Deaco
David Halves submitted plan for ne
church April 10. 1870, and it was accept
ed. July 81, 1879. Mrs. Boyer presente